Africa-Press – Seychelles. The kick-off of the 12th Games of the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) was given yesterday evening in Côte d’Or, à l’île Mauritius.
This great gathering of 14- to 17-year-olds brings together a thousand representatives from the seven member countries/territories of the CJSOI. They will compete in 11 sports disciplines and three cultural and leisure events.
The Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Pradeep Roopun in the presence of the Minister of Youth Empowerment and Sports Stephan Toussaint declared the Games open.
All the members of the National Assembly of Mauritius were also present.
This is the third time that Mauritius hosts this event after 1995 and 2006. In total, 1009 young people from Madagascar, Seychelles, Réunion, Comoros, Djibouti, Mayotte and Mauritius, including 900 athletes, take part what a great gathering.
On the menu of this two-hour evening: the traditional parade of athletes, the performance of oaths by athletes and officials, the speeches of dignitaries and a musical and cultural event performed by young artists in the colors of the participating countries.
In this capacity as president of the CJSOI, Mrs. Marie-Céline Zialor, Seychellois Minister of Youth, Sports and Family, said the following during the opening ceremony:
“The long awaited moment has arrived.
“After such a long moment of waiting and so much uncertainty about the holding of these 12th Games of the CJSOI, we are finally reunited again, in immense joy and in an overheated atmosphere of a great family celebration.
“Certainly, since Djibouti in 2017, the wait and the route to Mauritius has been long and uncertain. Struck by an epidemic of Covid-19 and unprecedented health restrictions, the youth of our country has been forced to remain inactive for two long months.
“Thus, the Games have been delayed by a year. Today, in front of you, this beautiful youth of the Indian Ocean, I am proud to note and to proclaim, that by our determination without fail, by our vigor as champions, by our insular or coastal dynamism, by the crazy envy de se revoir, nous voilà de nouveau rassemblés ».
Before adding: “Voilà la grande famille de l’Océan indien, pushed by the limitless energy of this youth and joyfully found around this same youth.” From this moment, and during the next eight days, Mauritius and the whole of our sub-region will vibrate to the rhythm of your heart, while you exchange your talents, intelligence and inspiration in the different sports competitions and the varied cultural competitions ».
Ms. Zialor invited the youth to be active and interactive.
“Out of the fields and halls of games or shows, I ask you to be active and interactive as well. Mix with each other, exchange your ideas and your dreams, share, make friends and above all, leave with good memories and nostalgia that will already make you want to find yourself again.
“It must not be forgotten that the people of the whole region and beyond will have their eyes fixed on your movements or will remain fixed in front of their television screen, to be present and to accompany you in this larger gathering and this more grande fête de la jeunesse de l’Océan indien.
“I ask you to live up to this noble task that awaits you. Be worthy of your status as a young ambassador of your respective countries. »
The Seychelles had Gaël Barreau and Khema Elizabeth as flag bearers.
The head of the delegation is Monsieur Alain Alcindor.
There are eleven disciplines of competition in the program, all open to girls and boys. Namely: athletics and handicap athletics, beach handball, boxing, futsal, weightlifting, swimming, petanque, tennis, table tennis, triathlon and sailing. The Seychellois will participate in all the disciplines in the program – except the triathlon.
The competitions will start on Monday, December 5 and will end on the 11th.
The competition will take place on the following sites: the National Sports Complex of Côte D’Or, the National Table Tennis Center in Beau-Bassin, the National Tennis Center in Petit-Camp, the National Boxing Center and the National Center weightlifting à Vacoas, the Beach Arena of Blue-Bay and the Mahébourg Waterfront.
It should be noted that during the last edition in Djibouti, the Seychelles won 11 medals including three gold medals.
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